Left-Wing Discussion Thread

[Dejanic]

Well the right have one, so the Left needs one as well. All Leftists are welcome, from softie Third way types to Anarcho Nihilistic post-Leftists.

On this thread we will discuss several topics, including..

-Left wing political topics.
-Left wing political news.
-The importance of progressive values and tolerance.
-General economic debate, since the "left wing" is a very broad term, and can include anyone (according to ones definition) from Karl Marx all the way to Barack Obama (some paranoid Paleo-cons would say there's no distinction).

I've included "Centrists" in the poll as Centrists usually reside within leftist parties, whether they be of a Social Democratic/Labour persuasion, or a Social Liberal ideology. I've approximetly listed the ideologies in order, with increasing leftness.

Personally I consider myself a centre-left Social Democrat, I sometimes lean towards a more left wing Democratic Socialism but it varies really.

[Talvezout]

*shilling intensifies*

For a discussion topic: What would be your guys' favorite left/center leaders?

ETA: I'm (or at least have sympathies) centrist.

[MERIZoC]

You forgot to put combatting cultural hitlerism into the OP.

[New Giliberafta]

*shilling intensifies*

For a discussion topic: What would be your guys' favorite left/center leaders?

Olof Palme.

[Geilinor]

Hello. I'm a centrist or a social liberal, leaning slightly center-left.

[Arlenton]

I'm a neocon.

I was told by someone with a confederate flag that was a left wing ideology so here I am.

[Yuganesia]

The Political Compass labels me as a social democrat, but I just say I'm a socialist because I'm proud of that label and I'm a bit neutral on democracy in the American context.

[Dejanic]

*shilling intensifies*

For a discussion topic: What would be your guys' favorite left/center leaders?

Olof Palme.

Yes, his name came to mind straight away. I'd also add Clement Attlee since he basically formed the welfare state in the UK, and even though he's divisive as shit and way to the right of me, Tony fucking Blair, because whilst he was and is a complete bastard and a warmonger, his government did to a lot of good in terms of relief for the poor and unemployed, tax credits, education, public services, etc.

[The Wolven League]

Communist, though I'm a supporter of the Green Party.

[Arglorand]

*shilling intensifies*

For a discussion topic: What would be your guys' favorite left/center leaders?

Olof Palme, Clement Attlee, Nicola Sturgeon, Viktor Chernov and Jesus.

That said, for everyone unfamiliar with my views, I am a centre-left to left-wing reformist socialist/social democrat. I consider myself to lean more towards the socialist side, as I do advocate for an eventual transition out of a capitalist economy, but I am quite pragmatic about it in that I feel the minimisation of human suffering to be my primary goal, and to that end I fail to sympathise with socialist currents that do not seek to alleviate the human costs of the current economic system's numerous failings except by a dogmatic commitment to abolishing capitalism.

[Calimera II]

I think I have become centre-leftish... hi...

[The Holy Republic of Bulgaria]

*shilling intensifies*

For a discussion topic: What would be your guys' favorite left/center leaders?

ETA: I'm (or at least have sympathies) centrist.

Bernie Sanders all the way. Gotta love em.

[Calimera II]

*shilling intensifies*

For a discussion topic: What would be your guys' favorite left/center leaders?

ETA: I'm (or at least have sympathies) centrist.

Bernie Sanders all the way. Gotta love em.

I don't love him, though.

[Unnamed island state]

There must be a center thread.

[New Giliberafta]

Olof Palme.

Yes, his name came to mind straight away. I'd also add Clement Attlee since he basically formed the welfare state in the UK, and even though he's divisive as shit and way to the right of me, Tony fucking Blair, because whilst he was and is a complete bastard and a warmonger, his government did to a lot of good in terms of relief for the poor and unemployed, tax credits, education, public services, etc.

Hmm I never considered Tony Blair.

[Arglorand]

Bernie Sanders all the way. Gotta love em.

I don't love him, though.

Gotta agree, tbh.

I'm still a wholehearted supporter of him actually winning, because all other options are far worse, but he's not perfect, he has tendencies toward populist rhetoric (tbf so does every other American politician with literally 0 exceptions, so I'll cut him some slack) and a lot of his policies seem a wee bit confused, like a jumbled mashing together of various broadly centre-left views popular more with Europeans than with Americans.

[New Giliberafta]

I don't love him, though.

Gotta agree, tbh.

I'm still a wholehearted supporter of him actually winning, because all other options are far worse, but he's not perfect, he has tendencies toward populist rhetoric (tbf so does every other American politician with literally 0 exceptions, so I'll cut him some slack) and a lot of his policies seem a wee bit confused, like a jumbled mashing together of various broadly centre-left views popular more with Europeans than with Americans.

I love him because, regardless of his flaws, he seems to be the only sane, passionate leftist (Hillary and Malley are debatable) that I can trust and think will do a decent job.

I would prefer Elizabeth Warren BUT NOOOO!! SHE DECIDED NOT TO RUN!

[Val Halla]

I'm an anarcho socialist. Meh.

[Forsher]

*looks at thread*

Clearly leftism is a reactionary ideology.

[Arglorand]

Gotta agree, tbh.

I'm still a wholehearted supporter of him actually winning, because all other options are far worse, but he's not perfect, he has tendencies toward populist rhetoric (tbf so does every other American politician with literally 0 exceptions, so I'll cut him some slack) and a lot of his policies seem a wee bit confused, like a jumbled mashing together of various broadly centre-left views popular more with Europeans than with Americans.

I love him because, regardless of his flaws, he seems to be the only sane, passionate leftist (Hillary and Malley are debatable) that I can trust and think will do a decent job.

I would prefer Elizabeth Warren BUT NOOOO!! SHE DECIDED NOT TO RUN!

Oh, I don't question that at all. Like I said, he is the best option available.

[Dejanic]

There must be a center thread.

I included Centrists in the poll in this thread for that very reason, I mean if you look at Centrists in Europe, they're almost always mainly found in their respective nation(s) centre-left Social Democratic party, in some nations they have individual Centrist parties, but they're usually minor. And in the US Centrists are almost entirely found within the Democrats, which is considered (in the USA, not world wide) a "left leaning party".

So I thought it made sense to include them in this thread for that very reason, I mean I'd consider Blair a Centrist, most would, but he certainly comes from a Leftist background, so a discussion on him would belong on this thread; the same with Bill Clinton for example.

Of course if a Centrist wishes to create their own discussion thread that's absolutely fine, I just want to emphasise that Centrists and moderates are more than welcome here.

[Val Halla]

There must be a center thread.

I included Centrists in the poll in this thread for that very reason, I mean if you look at Centrists in Europe, they're almost always mainly found in their respective nation(s) centre-left Social Democratic party, in some nations they have individual Centrist parties, but they're usually minor. And in the US Centrists are almost entirely found within the Democrats, which is considered (in the USA, not world wide) a "left leaning party".

So I thought it made sense to include them in this thread for that very reason, I mean I'd consider Blair a Centrist, most would, but he certainly comes from a Leftist background, so a discussion on him would belong on this thread; the same with Bill Clinton for example.

Of course if a Centrist wishes to create their own discussion thread that's absolutely fine, I just want to emphasise that Centrists and moderates are more than welcome here.

We just need a social libertarian thread now

[Ashworth-Attwater]

I think I have become centre-leftish... hi...

So have I...I don't even know what I consider myself, though.

Olof Palme, Clement Attlee, Nicola Sturgeon, Viktor Chernov and Jesus.

Nice touch.

*shilling intensifies*

For a discussion topic: What would be your guys' favorite left/center leaders?

ETA: I'm (or at least have sympathies) centrist.

Getúlio Vargas.

[Alyakia]

centrists don't get a thread because the word centrist is completely meaningless

you're an american centrist? welcome to the european right-wing. you're a radical centrist? the fucking purple chakra sellers of politics. (or is that austrian economics?)

[Jochistan]

Including the Centre/Moderate option in here?

triggered